UFC bantamweight fighter Sean O’Malley seems to be set for a longer stay in the UFC. Known as one of the most interesting characters in the company, O’Malley has quickly become a huge superstar. From his hair color to his very public life choices, Sean never fails to grab the headlines in a regular fashion. In the latest development, It is being reported that O’Malley has signed a new UFC deal.
A recent report from MMA Junkie points out that Suga Sean has inked an 8-fight deal with the UFC. UFC President Dana White made a huge announcement this past week. He revealed that Conor McGregor would return as the coach at TUF 31. But, one announcement that went the radar, was O’Malley’s contract extension.
However, the fighter himself has some interesting comments on the matter. O’Malley fired his manager Daniel Rubenstein last year. During an interview with Ariel Helwani on “The MMA Hour,” Sean revealed his decision was because he was not convinced by the job his manager was doing.
It looks like his latest contract extension justifies his decision. The 28-year-old also advocated that fighters should maintain a good relationship with the UFC.
He added, “I got a very gracious contract that I’m proud of. I got a number that I’m very happy with. I truly don’t think any manager that I had could have went in there and got me what I got… That also helps with the relationship built with the UFC. I feel like I have earned this contract. I feel like I have earned the amount that I’m getting paid.” (h/t via MMA Junkie)
Recently fans have seen a lot of fighters falling out with their respective managers. Most notably, Jon Jones and Jorge Masvidal left their management as they were unhappy with their compensation. So was the case with Paulo Costa, who fired his manager and appointed his girlfriend to the post.
Even the former UFC flyweight champ Deiveson Figueiredo opted to walk the same path and signed with Urijah Faber’s company after parting ways with his previous manager.
How much money has Sean O’Malley earned for the biggest fights of his career?
It is unknown how much money Sean O’Malley will actually receive after his contract extension. But he previously admitted that his other ventures like his YouTube channel and Twitch streaming earn him more than his UFC salaries. But that is bound to change following his recent jump in rankings.
In his last fight, Sean O’Malley fought Petr Yan at UFC 280. Although none expected him to win, O’Malley pulled off a somewhat controversial win. Hence there are expectations that he will fight for the bantamweight title sooner than later. So ahead of his potential title fight, let’s take a look at how much he has earned for the biggest fights of his career so far.
Sean O’Malley beat Alfred Khashakyan at Dana White’s Contender Series in 2017 to get into the UFC. He earned $12,500 in total ($5k to show, $5k to win, and $2.5k as sponsorship money). He beat Terrion Ware, Andre Soukhamthath, and José Alberto Quiñónez successively afterward. In his fourth UFC bout, he took on Eddie Wineland at UFC 250.
He knocked Wineland out in the fight and pocketed $134,000 ($40k to show, $40k to win, $50k to win, and $4k for sponsorship). Sean had a huge bump in the spot afterward as he fought Marlon Vera in the UFC 252 co-main event. Unfortunately for Sean, he lost after suffering a leg injury. O’Malley made $64,000 which comprised $60k to show and $4k for sponsorship.
Sean suffered a lot of backlash for how he handled the situation. But he silenced his doubters with dominant wins over Kris Mutinho and Thomas Almeida. For those two fights, he earned $261,000 and $175,000k respectively. He earned a base salary of six figures for the first time against Raulian Paiva at UFC 269. He earned $256,000 in total. It included $100k to show, $100k to win, a $50k performance bonus, and $6k from sponsorships.
His bout against Pedro Munhoz ended in a no-contest due to an accidental eye poke at UFC 276. Hence, he only earned $156,000 and it included a $150k base salary and another $6k from sponsorships. But, the biggest fight of his career was against Petr Yan at UFC 280. In that split decision win, O’Malley earned $356,000, the biggest payday of Sean’s career.
His purse included $150,000 each to fight and win. On top of that, he got $50k as a performance bonus and $6k for sponsorships. Despite not having a manager, it looks like O’Malley’s earnings saw an upward trajectory. So is there a benefit to not having a manager? Let us know in the comments down below.
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